Grinding machine with stationary work support and traversing carriage



Dec. 17, 1963 Filed March 29, 1960 H F ELFORD GRINDING MACHINE WITH STATIONARY WORK SUPPORT AND TRAVERSING CARRIAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet l HaroIdEElf'ord IN V EN TOR.

Dec. 17, 1963 H. F. ELFORD 3,114,222

GRINDING MACHINE WITH STATIONARY WORK SUPPORT AND TRAVERSING CARRIAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1960 Harold F Elf'ord IN V EN TOR.

I GRINDING MACHINE WITH STATIONARY WORK SUPPORT AND TRAVERSING CARRIAGE Harold F. Elford, Portland, Greg, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Elford Plywood Machinery, Inc., a corporation of Oregon Filed Mar. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 18,315

4 Claims. (Cl. 51-34) ,ing a substantial distance along the workpiece. A grinding wheel and its power source could be held in a relatively stationary position, and the work moved relative to the grinding wheel, but such an organization requires space for the ends of the workpiece as it is moved to and fro. Further, the movable mounting for the workpiece is expensive and diificult to build, as accurate work requires that the workpiece be held steadily during grinding and that the piece move in a true, unvarying path. Problems such as these have made advantageous a construction for grinding machines where the workpiece is held stationary and the grinding wheel and its power source are traversed relative to the workpiece.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved grinding machine .or this description, wherein provision is made forholding a workpiece firmly in fixed position with the surface that is to be ground fully visible to. the machine operator, and which includes a grinding wheel supported on carriage structure that traverses to' and fro along the frame of the machine, such carriage structure being organized and constructed to enable full adjustment in the position of the grinding wheel.

' of the line of vision of an operator running the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a grinding machine, an improved construction for the mounting of the grinding wheel and its motor, the same being relatively simple but enabling full adjustment of the position of the grinding wheel, both vertically and horizontally, and also tilting or canting of the wheel.

Still another object is to provide an improved mounting for the grinding wheel wherein adjustment of the height of the grinding wheel may be made without changing the cant or tilt of the wheel. I

A further object is to provide an improved grinding machine which includes Ways supported at a lower level than the workpiece and grinding wheel and novel cover means for these ways, wherein any debris falling from the grinding wheel is prevented from accumulating on the ways. 7

A still further object is to provide novel cover means for Ways in a machine of the above description, which takes the form of flexible cover strips connected to the grinding wheel mounting, and novel means for paying out and taking up the strips at either end of the machine,

- so that they always remain relatively flat over the Ways as the grinding wheel mounting traverses thereover.

Other novel features and objects of the invention will become apparent as the following description is read in' United States Patent and frame 10. ,braced by a longitudinally extending strengthener 22,

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2 conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a side elevation of portions of one end of a grinding machine constructed according to an embodi- 'ment of the invention, showing a traversing carriage that mounts a grinding wheel, such carriage moving on ways supported on. a frame, and being equipped with cover means for the ways extending to either side of the carriage;

FIG.'2 isa side elevation of portions of the other end ofthe machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1 illustrating details of the means employedfor taking up and paying out the way coverings; Y

FIG. 4 is a section View along the line 44 in FIG. 1, illustrating further details of the grinding machine;

FIG. 5 is a view, somewhat enlarged, of portions of j the carriage structure for the grinding wheel.

ly extending frame members 18. The left set of ends of frame members 18, as seen in FIG. 4, support the bottom ends of a series of vertical supports 20 provided along one sideof and at intervals along the length of These vertical supports 20 may be interand provide a support for the mountingused in securing a workpiece in fixed position onthe frame.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the

grinding wheel is shown as it would be used to finish a concave elongated round 24 extending along the upper edge of a bar or workpiece 26. Such around is important, for instance, in abar that is to be used in mounting theroller bar of a veneer lathe. While the grinding machine is shown as finishing such a workpiece,

it is obvious that it could be used for other applications of a similar nature.

Workpiece 26 is supported on vertical supports 20 along one side of the frame by a mounting generally indicated at 30 which includes mechanism for clamping the workpiece with the surface that is to be ground facing upwardly and slightly toward the opposite side of the frame. This puts the surface in full view of an operator standing adjacent this opposite side. Mounting 30 comprises a backing plate 32 secured to angled ends 22a of strengtheners 22, and with a work-supporting 'surface 32a that faces to the left in FIG. 4, or away from the viewer in FIG. 1. A shoulder 34 is provided 'the backing 'plate, for supporting the bottom edge of workpiece or bar 26. Mounted at regular intervals along plate 32 and adjacent its base and in between strengtheners 22 are a series of clamp mechanisms 36, which are used to clamp bar 26 firmly against surface 32a.

In the embodiment illustrated, each clamping mecha- .nism.36 takes the form of a pressure arm38 pivotally mounted on the backing plate at 44), and provided at a nonpivoted or free end with a screw-threaded pressure stud 42. The inner end of stud 42 bears against the 56. This is secured to a grinding wheel arbor 58 extendelevated position above'and to one side of the workpiece,

and toward the side of frame opposite the side having mounting by a traversing carriage structure indicated at 62. As will hereinafter become apparent, structure 62 includes mechanism that enables the motor and grinding wheel arbor to be shifted vertically, and horizontally in a direction normalto mounting 30, and also cante about an axis extending parallel to the mounting. Such adjustments can be made by an operator standing along the side of frame 10 opposite the side containing mounting 30, or the right side of the frame in FIG. 4. The operator during the making of any of these adjustments has full visibility of the surface of the workpiece being ground,

since'the ways supporting the carriage structure are at a nally of the frame to one side of and below mounting 30.

Carriage structure 62 has a base 76 that is supported on 'ways 70, 72 for 'movement to and fro thereon in a direction parallel to mounting 60.

Secured to the top of base 76 are a pair of transversely extending ways 78. These guide for movement trans- I versely of ways 70, 72' a mounting frame indicated at 80.

Mounting frame 80 has a pair of opposed, upstanding walls 82, 84. The position of the mounting frame relative to base 76 is mechanically adjusted, through a screwthreaded adjuster shaft 86 that is journaled in and held from axial shifting by a bearing 88 secured to base 76.

Shaft 86 extends through an internally threaded part 90 secured to floor 92 of mounting frame 80. A hand wheel or wheel actuator 94 adjacent the right side of the frame in FIG. 4 is fixed to the end of shaft 86, and is used manually to turn the shaft, with movement of frame 80 relative to base 76 occurring by reason of part 90 traveling along the shaft. The shaft and associated parts eonstitute screw-adjusted mechanism for adjusting the position of the mounting frame. I

Pivotally mounted on upstanding walls 82, 84 of mounting frame 80 is a su-bframe 100. The pivot connection with the subframe is indicated at 102. Subframe 100 comprises a pair of side plates 104, 106 joined by a plate shiftable up and down in ways 112, 114, and a plate 120 joined at substantially right angles to the upper end of plate 118 and extending outwardly toward the viewer in FIG. 5. Plate 120 is provided along its top with ways 122 extending normally of mounting 30, and these ways receive a slidable mounting 124, that supports motor 60. The motor and mounting 124 is fixed in position on' ways 122 by suitable means (not shown). Ordinarily adjustment in the position of the motor in a direction extending transversely of the frame is done chiefly through ways 76, 78, and ways 122 are only used infrequently, as when setting up the machine.

Another screw-adjusted mechanism is provided for moving motor support 116 vertically up and down on plate- 108. This comprises a pair of shafts 132, 134

(shaft 134 being'threaded) connected by meshing bevel ygears 136, 138. Shaft 134 is rotatably anchored at 140 'these are slotted-at 176 to receive the strips.

4 to the bottom edge of plate 118 and is screwed through an internally threaded part 142 fixed to plate 108 and projecting through an aperture 143 formed in plate 118. Shaft 132 is provided with a hand wheel or wheel actuator 144 on the same side of the frame as wheel 94, and when this is turned rotation of shaft 132 is transmitted to shaft 134, which results in vertical movement of the motor support by reason of part 142 traveling on threaded I shaft 134.

The ways 70, 72 supporting adjustable carriage structure 62 are substantially below the level of mounting 30,

and during operation of the machine debris may be thrown from the grinding wheel onto the ways. To prevent accumulation of such debris on the ways, flexible cover strips or means 146 are provided that cover the ways as the carriage structure traverses to and fro.

Each cover strip is secured at one end by fastenings 160 joining it to the carriage structure. The strips extend outwardly from either side of the carriage structure and over the ends of the frame. At the ends of the frame the strips are trained over pulleys 162. Thence they drop downwardly into wells 170 set in the floor, that may take the form of elongated metal cylinders. Cylinders 170 are provided with top covers 174, and The other ends of the strips are fastened at 178 to top covers 174, and those portions of the ends of the strips disposed within the wells define elongated dependant loops 179.

The cover strips are kept tight across the ways 70, 72 by weights 1 80 cradled in loops 179. These are provided with pulleys 182 that ride in the bottoms of the loops. The loops and weights constitute a means for taking up and paying out the strips-as the carriage structure traverses over the ways.

Secured to the top of top covers 174 are scrapers 186. These have scraping edges 188 that slide over .the exposed upper surfaces of the strips as the strips move more downwardly into the wells, and operate to scrape oif any debris which may have collected on the strips.

Power-operated means is provided for moving the carriage structure 6 2. Specifically, secured to the under side of base 76 is a cable 190. This extends in elongated reaches out from the sides of the base, and is trained at the ends of its reaches overpulleys 192. Pulleys 196, 198 are tightener pulleys secured to frame 10. The cable is moved with the top run of the cable and the carriage structure moving to right or left by means of a reversible motor 200, drivingly connected to one pulley 192 by a belt 202.

In summary, it will be seen that the construction contemplated comprises a fixed mounting for a workpiece, wherein that workpiece is carried with the surface that is to be ground in a raised position in sight of an operator.

. The grinding wheel carriage structure transverses to and fro along one side of the workpiece, on ways dropped below the mounting for the workpiece. The carriage structure is completely adjustable, to enable shifting of grinding wheel up or down or horizontally -(in a direction normal to the workpiece) or tiltingor canting of the grinding wheel. These adjustments are made by means of hand wheels disposed on the side of the frame L10 where an operator normally will stand. Thus the operator may view the exposed upper surface of the workpiece and make proper adjustments in the carriage structure at the same time.

The ways supporting the carriage are protected from debris by the cover strips discussed. Further, moved mean-s is provided for taking up or paying out these cover strips. While the cover strips are taken up, they automatically are scraped clean by the scrapers described.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described, various changes in the parts and/or their organization will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed, but to cover all modifications and variations that would be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that come the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A grinding machine comprising a machine frame and an elongated mounting for a workpiece extending along one side of the machine frame; way means mounted on said machine frame substantially parallel to said mounting; upright carriage structure supported on said way means for movement to and fro thereover; said carriage structure including a mounting frame mounted for movement transversely of said Way means, screw adjusted mechanism for adjusting the position of said mounting frame and with a Wheel actuator disposed adjacent the other side of the machine frame, a subframe pivotally supported on said mounting frame for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said way means, a motor support mounted on said subframe for movement along a straight path up and down thereon, and screw adjusted mechanism for adjusting the position of said motor support on said subframe and with a wheel actuator disposed adjacent said other side of said machine frame; a motor mounted on said motor support; and a grinding wheel arbor above and extending transversely of said mounting connected to the motor to be driven thereby; said grinding wheel arbor extending substantially perpendicularly to the path of movement of said motor support and being constructed to mount a grinding wheel with the plane of such a wheel substantially parallel to said mounting.

2. In a grinding wheel machine, a frame, elongated way means mounted on said frame, traversing carriage structure mounted on said way means for movement to and fro thereover, said carriage structure supporting a power-driven grinding Wheel arbor adapted to mount a grinding wheel, flexible cover means extending in a covering relationover said way means to either side of i said carriage structure and including end portions extending beyond the ends of said way means, each of said end portions of said cover means from a point adjacent each end of said Way means extending downwardly and then upwardly to define a pendant loop and terminating in an anchored portion disposed above said pendant loop, elongated hollow casing structures at each end of and extending down from said way means, each of said hollow casing structures receiving the pendant [loop defined by an end portion of said flexible cover means, and weights cradled in said pendant loops yieldably urging maximum allowable extension of the pendant loops in said casing structures.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 which further comprises a scraper blade for cleaning said cover means mounted in a position contacting an end portion of said cover means where said end portion extends downwardly beyond an end of said way means, said cover means sliding on said scraper blade with the biade thus cleaning the cover means upon extension or contraction of the pendant loop defined by said end portion.

4. A grinding machine comprising a machine frame and an elongated horizontal mounting for a workpiece extending along one side of the machine frame; horizontal way means mounted on the machine frame substantially parallel to said mounting; upright carriage structure supported on said way means for movement to and fro thereover; said carriage including a mounting frame mounted for substantially horizontal movement transversely of said way means, a subframe pivotally supported on said mounting frame for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to said Way means, a motor support, and means mounting said motor support on said subframe accommodating up and-down movement of the support along a substantially straight path; a motor mounted on said motor support; and a grinding Wheel arbor above and extending transversely of said mounting connected to said motor to be driven thereby; said arbor extending substantially perpendicularly to the path of movement of said motor support on said subframe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A GRINDING MACHINE COMPRISING A MACHINE FRAME AND AN ELONGATED MOUNTING FOR A WORKPIECE EXTENDING ALONG ONE SIDE OF THE MACHINE FRAME; WAY MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID MACHINE FRAME SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID MOUNTING; UPRIGHT CARRIAGE STRUCTURE SUPPORTED ON SAID WAY MEANS FOR MOVEMENT TO AND FRO THEREOVER; SAID CARRIAGE STRUCTURE INCLUDING A MOUNTING FRAME MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF SAID WAY MEANS, SCREW ADJUSTED MECHANISM FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID MOUNTING FRAME AND WITH A WHEEL ACTUATOR DISPOSED ADJACENT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MACHINE FRAME, A SUBFRAME PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON SAID MOUNTING FRAME FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID WAY MEANS, A MOTOR SUPPORT MOUNTED ON SAID SUBFRAME FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A STRAIGHT PATH UP AND DOWN THEREON, AND SCREW ADJUSTED MECHANISM FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID MOTOR SUPPORT ON SAID SUBFRAME AND WITH A WHEEL ACTUATOR DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID OTHER SIDE OF SAID MACHINE FRAME; A MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID MOTOR SUPPORT; AND A GRINDING WHEEL ARBOR ABOVE AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID MOUNTING CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR TO BE DRIVEN THEREBY; SAID GRINDING WHEEL ARBOR EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID MOTOR SUPPORT AND BEING CONSTRUCTED TO MOUNT A GRINDING WHEEL WITH THE PLANE OF SUCH A WHEEL SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID MOUNTING. 